Local

From Staff
From Andrew Jackson High at the south end of the county to Indian Land Elementary in the north, Lancaster County schools opened their doors Monday for the first day of the 2011-12 school year.
Though exact attendance numbers are not yet available, attendance overall is expected to rise only slightly over last year’s student population of 11,378, a Lancaster County School District official said last week.

Reece Murphyrmurphy@thelancasternews.com
A Buford Middle School sixth-grader is recovering after being hit by a car this weekend.
Angel Martin, 12, was struck Saturday evening as she tried to cross Airport Road in Lancaster near Dollar General.
State Highway Patrol Lance Cpl. Billy Elder said the accident occurred about 6:20 p.m. when the girl reportedly stepped out in front of an eastbound Honda four-door sedan traveling south on Airport Road.

Christopher Sardellicsardelli@thelancasternews.com
A ban on rezonings in Indian Land remains in effect, even though some residents are pleading with Lancaster County Council to lift the restriction.
Council discussed a proposed change to its freeze on property rezonings in the Indian Land area at its Aug. 8 meeting.
The proposal, which would have allowed an exemption for planned development districts, is in response to a developer’s request to create a 100-acre residential PDD in the Panhandle.

Jesef Williamsjwilliams@thelancasternews.com
Anyone who does business with copper now has to adhere to stricter guidelines. A new state law came into effect today that places more restrictions and regulations on the purchase and transport of copper and other metals that do not contain an appreciable amount of iron.

Christopher Sardellicsardelli@thelancasternews.com
Rudy Carter was shocked by the news he heard Tuesday morning.
Elgin Volunteer Fire Department Chief Dennis Cauthen, a longtime friend of Carter’s, died at 8 a.m. Tuesday after suffering a heart attack, just two hours after helping clear the scene of a fire at a vacant building, according to Lancaster County Fire Marshal Stephen Blackwelder.
“This is the biggest kick in the stomach I’ve had in a long, long time,” said Carter, a Lancaster County councilman.

Christopher Sardellicsardelli@thelancasternews.com
A Lancaster County fire department chief died early Tuesday morning only hours after fighting a fire.
Elgin Volunteer Fire Department Chief Dennis Cauthen, 54, died at 8 a.m., a little over two hours after helping clear the scene of a fire at a vacant building, according to a Lancaster County Fire Service press release.

Lancaster County officials may soon contract with an outside firm to catch locals who are improperly claiming certain tax credits and exemptions on their property taxes.

Bryan Fawcett of Tax Management Associates spoke to Lancaster City Council on Tuesday about the company’s services. He gave a more detailed presentation July 21 to the finance committees for City Council and Lancaster County Council.